Police seeking robbery suspects

September 3, 2013

GLOVERSVILLE - City police have released more details about the three men who robbed Rossbach Shoe Store on Saturday, making off with an unknown amount of cash.

Police said one of the suspects is about 5 feet, 7 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with an average build, who is possibly in his 30s and has a large scar on one of his cheeks about 3 to 4 inches long.

The second suspect is about 6 feet to 6 feet, 2 inches tall, who has an average build, is possibly in his late 20s to early 30s and has a tattoo of numbers or letters in a straight line on the inside of his left forearm, police said.

Article Photos

Charles Rossbach is shown in Rossbach Shoe Store in Gloversville this morning. The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan

Police said the third suspect is about 5 feet, 5 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches tall. He is stockier than the other two suspects, has a young-looking face and was wearing a red shirt and hat and is possibly in his mid-20s, police said.

The Hispanic or light-skinned black men walked into the store appearing as though they were interested in purchasing sneakers, police said.

Police Chief Donald VanDeusen said the Saturday afternoon heist occurred in broad daylight. He said a witness indicated the three suspects took off in a vehicle after robbing the store, where owner Charles Rossbach was working.

Authorities said after the three men were in the store for a short time, one suspect closed the door to the store while a different suspect displayed a gun and announced the robbery.

The suspects stole items from the safe, police said, along with Air Jordan sneakers in a large cardboard box, and fled on foot west on West Fulton Street, then north on Bleecker Street to a vehicle parked on the west side of Bleecker Street near the intersection of Church Street.

Police said the suspects fled north on Elm Street in a dark four-door compact car, possibly with spoke wheels.

The chief said the three men entered the store at 10 W. Fulton St. at 3:26 p.m. He said the men had Rossbach open a safe at gunpoint, and the thieves made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

VanDeusen said the witness was unable to get a license plate number from the vehicle.

Police aren't reporting any injuries to the victim.

The owner of the family-owned shoe store that has been in operation for more than 90 years, Charles Rossbach said this morning while he suffered a loss of merchandise and money from the robbery, he will make that up as time progresses.

He said the incident won't prevent him from continuing business in the city.

However, Rossbach said he will increase security within the store after the robbery.

Rossbach said he and his wife were in the store when the robbery took place and were shaken up from the event, although he declined to comment on the specifics of the incident.

He said this was the first time the store had been robbed while it was open. In the past, eh said, the door had been kicked in and merchandise had been taken while the shop was closed.

Rossbach attributed the robbery to the increased presence of drugs in the community and the loss of industry over the years, which has resulted in more people in difficult situations having idle time rather than working.

He said he is thankful for all the support the community has provided since the incident occurred.

VanDeusen said this morning the department is still following leads to find the people responsible.The chief said it has been quite a while since a store was robbed at gunpoint within the city, although he couldn't recall the last time it happened.

The Police Department released images from video cameras at the Four Corners and the intersection of North?Main?Street and Prospect Avenue showing the suspects and vehicle far in the background.

Anyone with information can call either the Gloversville police sergeant's desk at 773-4506, or the detective division at 773-4505.